cover image Once a Giant, Always--: My Two Lives with the New York Giants

Once a Giant, Always--: My Two Lives with the New York Giants

Andy Robustelli. Quinlan Press (MA), $16.95 (223pp) ISBN 978-0-933341-26-5

Robustelli worked for the New York football Giants on two occasions: in the late 1950s and early '60s he was a player and player-coach, and in the mid-'70s he was director of operations. His first tenure covered the years when the Giants were the best in the league, the years when Charlie Conerly, Y. A. Tittle and Frank Gifford led the team to a string of victorious seasons; his second coincided with the period when the team was in the doldrums and the feud between co-owners Wellington Mara and his nephew, Tim Mara, was building into an irreconcilable split. His account of these two eras is notable. Unlike many ex-players who write memoirs, he does not recall the details of every play in every game; he brings to exciting life such coaches as Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry and Allie Sherman, such players as Harry Carson and George Martin. Coauthor Clary is a freelance sports writer. Photos not seen by PW. 20,000 first printing. (November 5)